Nextgen Kids: The New Era

Sector $, Part €2: Carol's Fan

So, I just realized this is the 10-year anniversary for Operation: I.N.T.E.R.V.I.E.W.S.. I think that calls for a reference!

Chapter €2: Carol's Fan

Sector $ Treehouse

Sector $ was stationed in Poshley Heights, a luxurious town in the mountains near Hollywood. It was a mansion with a giant "$" to mark it, and there was a courtyard with a fountain and several umbrella tables. The five operatives were relaxing in a spa room, resting their feet in small tubs with pink bubbly soap and wearing white towels. Sebastian was gingerly washing their hair. "Why do you let your butler in here, anyway?" Weiss asked. "Isn't the point of treehouses to get away from adults?"

"Would you like him to stop?" Ciel asked.

"No." They chorused, enjoying the treatment.

"In ongoing news," Melody Jackson spoke on the wall-size TV, "nearly a week has passed since the dreadful 'Horrorverse,' a night that brought us more than we were ready for. Investigations are underway for a supposed assassin group called CP0, as well as the shocking return of Pirate Emperor Big Mom, or should we say her distant ancestor? What does this spell for the Kids Next Door? I tell you one thing: if I was an adult, I would be SMOKING like a bombshell! Imagine that: the Ocean Princess smoking. I got a dead brother and chronic neck pains, I got nothing else to lose!"

"So, what do you guys think the next catastrophe will be?" Pacifica asked boredly.

"Well, it's only been our 2nd cursed Halloween, and hopefully villains got the message about destroying the universe." Carol said. "The moon fell once, our matter almost imploded, Big Mom tried to turn everything into candy... There's always the chance of a winter apocalypse, I guess."

"Anyway, how about some more positive news? Supreme Leader Cheren Uno has announced tomorrow is Meet Your Heroes Day. To celebrate the 23-year anniversary of Nigel Uno saving the universe, and basically starting all the crazy crud we know and love, operatives from the intergalactic Kids Next Doors will be visiting Earth to meet their heroes in our Kids Next Door. Which makes sense, because it's not like those OTHER KNDs did as much work as WE did, took the risks that we did! So, we BETTER be treated as heroes!"

Melody received a phone call, so she answered. "Hello, Cheren. ...Tone it down a bit? Sigh, fine." She hung up. "Ahem, Numbuh 3621 just wanted to remind everyone to be respectful to your guests and set a good example for our organization. Who knows, you might make a few new friends."

"This is GREAT!" Carol cheered, kicking her feet up in the air. "I can't wait to see my intergalactic fanbase!"

"We haven't even been active too long." Ciel said.

"You haven't, but I have! I was a rookie going into more than she bargained for!" She paddled her feet in the tub. "I was up against a Pirate Emperor's crew, and took a Coin Bomb to the face! But I survived, and from then on, I was BOUND for bigger and better things! I probably inspired tons of rookie operatives, teaching them that no matter who you are or how limited your skillset is, you can do anything!"

"A good leader would have a vast skillset."

"Not the time, Ciel! Sebastian, send a call for Aeincha from Sector W7! I need to get a hair cut!"

"Then there was no point in washing it?"

"Nnnnope!"

KND Convention Center

"Thank you, intergalactic Kids Next Doors, for coming today to Meet Your Heroes!" Cheren announced from the podium. Hundreds of alien ships were hovering around the elevated stadium. "Based on your votes, we've gathered the top sectors on the entire planet and more, and they're ready to meet you! Uh, but it seems we have way more people than I anticipated... I should've expected this, given how many planets there are. Uh, if you could hurry up and find your heroes, then please adjourn to a location of your choosing, we can keep things a little less claustrophobic."